Candice Carty-Williams's sequel to her bestselling debut Queenie picks up eight years later, with the now 33-year-old Queenie Jenkins undergoing a fertility checkup. The novel, Queenie Is Working on It, continues to explore her chaotic life with humor and insight.
Fertility Fears and Romantic Misadventures
Queenie, a Jamaican-British woman in London, works undercover at a fertility clinic for a Black-owned social media platform, researching Black women's experiences with IVF. When tests indicate low chances of natural pregnancy, she spirals and confronts her messy love life, particularly her involvement with the non-committal Vin, who works for Transport for London. Her friends, especially Kyazike, offer sharp, no-nonsense advice, like calling Vin 'TfL' because 'they don't deserve government names till they prove themselves worthy.'
Race and Female Friendship
Carty-Williams deftly weaves racial politics into everyday life. Kyazike's comment about bringing a Black baby into a single-parent home feels 'wrong' reflects a nuanced perspective. Queenie herself rolls her eyes at the 'strong Black woman thing,' noting it was left behind in 2020. The novel's strength lies in its authentic portrayal of female friendships, with ribald humor and deep affection.
A Work in Progress
Queenie's sexual vulnerability is a serious theme; she uses sex to seek emotional connection, often failing. Carty-Williams writes with candid, pragmatic detail. At a hen party, Queenie takes notes on anovulation and basal temperature testing, lamenting that she didn't learn this in school. The novel poses sharp questions about reproductive choices shaped by financial insecurity and career pressures.
Queenie Is Working on It is published by Trapeze (£20).
